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  • PRESS RELEASE : Cabinet Office announces new appointments to the Queen Elizabeth Memorial Committee [February 2024]

    PRESS RELEASE : Cabinet Office announces new appointments to the Queen Elizabeth Memorial Committee [February 2024]

    The press release issued by the Cabinet Office on 5 February 2024.

    Seven people have been appointed to the Committee responsible for recommending proposals for a permanent memorial and legacy programme to remember Queen Elizabeth II.

    • Committee will consider Her Late Majesty’s life of public service and make recommendations for a permanent memorial and national legacy programme.
    • Appointees include Baroness Valerie Amos LG CH PC, Dame Amelia Fawcett DBE CVO and Sir William Shawcross CVO.

    SENIOR figures from across British public life have been appointed to the Queen Elizabeth Memorial Committee, the Cabinet Office has announced.

    Seven people have been appointed to the Committee responsible for recommending proposals for a permanent memorial and legacy programme to remember Queen Elizabeth II. These new appointments follow the announcement of Lord Janvrin, former Private Secretary to Queen Elizabeth, as Chair last year.

    The new appointees are:

    1. Baroness Valerie Amos LG CH PC
    2. Dame Amelia Fawcett DBE CVO
    3. Joe Garner
    4. Alex Holmes
    5. Anna Keay OBE
    6. Sandy Nairne CBE FSA
    7. Sir William Shawcross CVO

    Each member will bring unique knowledge and experience to the project. Further appointments will be made to the Committee in due course, to provide particular expertise and advice.

    The Committee will meet for the first time this month.

    Over the next two years the Committee will consider Her Late Majesty’s life of public service throughout her long reign and the causes she supported. In doing this they will also engage with the public to ensure ideas and suggestions from across the whole of society are captured.

    One of the Committee’s first activities will be to engage and consult with experts in relevant fields in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland to ensure expertise from across the UK is shared.

    The plans will be unveiled to coincide with what would have been Queen Elizabeth’s hundredth birthday year in 2026.

    The UK Government will support the successful proposals, and will work closely with the Committee as proposals develop.

    Deputy Prime Minister Oliver Dowden said:

    For seventy years Queen Elizabeth II was our greatest public servant and it is fitting that we develop a lasting memorial to her legacy. These new committee members bring a range of unique expertise and experience to this important project.

    Committee Chair Lord Janvrin said:

    These appointments bring together a very talented group of people with a wide range of expertise, experience and contacts to manage this important national project. I very much look forward to working with them.

    ENDS

    Notes to editors

    The Queen Elizabeth Memorial Committee is an independent advisory body jointly supported by the UK Government and Royal Household.

    Biographies of members being appointed

    Lord Janvrin GCB GCVO PC

    The Committee is chaired by Lord Janvrin GCB GCVO PC. Robin Janvrin joined the Royal Household in 1987 and served as Private Secretary to Queen Elizabeth II between 1999 and 2007, having served as her Press Secretary, Assistant Private Secretary and Deputy Private Secretary between 1987 and 1999.

    Before entering the Royal Household he served in the Royal Navy between 1964 and 1975 and in the Diplomatic Service between 1975 and 1987, taking postings in NATO Brussels and New Delhi.

    Since leaving the Royal Household, Lord Janvrin served as Chairman of the Royal Foundation of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry from 2010 to 2016, and a Trustee of the National Portrait Gallery from 2008 to 2016 and of the Gurkha Welfare Trust from 2010 to 2016. He was Senior Adviser to HSBC Private Bank (UK) between 2008-2019.  He has been a Member of the British Library Board since 2017, a Trustee of the Normandy Memorial Trust since 2018 and is Secretary of the Order of Merit.  He was ennobled in 2007 and sits as a crossbench peer in the House of Lords.

    The members of the Committee are:

    The Rt Hon Baroness Valerie Amos LG PH PC

    Baroness Valerie Amos has been the Master of University College Oxford since September 2020. Prior to this she was the Director of SOAS, University of London. She was a Cabinet Minister, 2003-2007, including serving as Secretary of State for International Development and Leader of the House of Lords.

    Baroness Amos has also served as UK High Commissioner to Australia and was the United Nations Under Secretary General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator from 2010 -2015.

    Lady Amos’s interests include, foreign policy and development matters, social justice, equality and inclusion as well as education. . She is on the board of the Mastercard Foundation, UN Foundation and Institute for Government and is also a member of the advisory board of the Mo Ibrahim Foundation and Patron of the Amos Bursary.

    Dame Amelia Fawcett DBE CVO

    Dame Amelia is Lead Director of State Street Corporation in Boston, Massachusetts.   She was a Governor of the Wellcome Trust from 2019-2023, a Non-Executive Director and then Chairman of Kinnevik AB in Stockholm from 2011 – 2021 and of the Guardian Media Group plc from 2007 – 2013.  She  worked for Morgan Stanley for 20 years, joining in London in 1987 and becoming Chief Operating Officer and Vice Chairman of the European, Middle East and Africa operations in 2002. Dame Amelia started her career at the US law firm of Sullivan & Cromwell, first in New York and then in Paris.

    Dame Amelia is Co-Chair of the International Advisory Panel for Biodiversity Credits, Chair of Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, and a Trustee of Project HOPE UK. Until recently, she was Chairman of the Standards Board for Alternative Investments, a Non-Executive member of the Board of HM Treasury, Chairman of The Prince of Wales’s Charitable Foundation, Deputy Chairman and a Governor of the London Business School and a Commissioner of the UK-US Fulbright Commission.  She also has been a member of the Court of the Bank of England and Deputy Chairman of the National Portrait Gallery.

    Dame Amelia was appointed a Commander of The Royal Victorian Order (CVO) in Her late Majesty The Queen’s 2018 Birthday Honours List, an honour solely in the gift of the Monarch, She was appointed a Dame Commander of the British Empire (DBE) in the 2010 Queen’s Birthday Honours List and a CBE in 2002, in both cases for services to the financial services industry. She received The Prince of Wales’s Ambassador Award in 2004.

    Johnson (Joe) Garner

    Joe led Nationwide Building Society through Brexit and COVID as CEO from 2016 to 2022. His career started with Procter & Gamble in 1991 based predominantly in Romania. In 2001 he joined Currys Plc before moving to HSBC in 2004 where he progressed to lead the UK.   In 2014 he became Chief Executive Officer of BT’s Openreach.

    Joe was a non-executive director of the Financial Ombudsman Service from 2008-2010 and served on the Board of the UK Finance and the Financial Regulator’s Practitioner Panel.  Joe now works as an advisor to CEO’s and recently completed the independent Future of Payments Review for the Chancellor.

    Joe is a Patron of British Triathlon and a GB age group competitor finishing 16th at the 2022 World Championships.  He was Chair of the British Triathlon charity from 2013 to 2021 and since 2023 is Chair of the charity Tennis First.

    Alex Holmes, Queen’s Young Leader

    Alex currently serves as the Deputy CEO at The Diana Award, a non-profit organisation inspired by Princess Diana’s belief in the transformative power of young people. He leads initiatives to recognise and support global changemakers, providing them with the skills to amplify their social impact. In addition to his role at The Diana Award, Alex serves as a Director at BBC Children In Need, where he focuses on the ‘We Move’ fund.

    Holmes was driven by personal experiences with bullying, and in 2004 founded the Anti-Bullying Ambassadors program. This peer-to-peer support initiative has trained over 50,000 young people across the UK, Ireland, Greece, and Miami. He plays a crucial role, sitting on the global safety advisory boards of major social media companies, including Spotify, Meta, TikTok, Twitch, Yubo, and Snapchat. He provides valuable insights and advice on approaches to safety and mitigating online harms. Alex is a regular expert on ITV This Morning, CBBC Newsround and a trusted government advisor.

    A Queen’s Young Leader, Alex is a Forbes 30 Under 30 honoree, and a recipient of The Muhammad Ali Humanitarian Award. He was also part of The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation Advisory Board, contributing to their Sustainable Development Goals ‘Goalkeeper program.’  Holmes was Named on the Independent on Sunday’s Happy List as one of the ‘100 people who make Britain a happier place to live.

    Alex was recognised as a ‘Queen’s Young Leader’ in 2017 by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II for his exceptional work in combating bullying and fostering a positive environment for children. The Queen’s Young Leaders programme ran from 2014 to 2018 and recognised and celebrated exceptional young leaders aged 18-29 from across the Commonwealth.

    Dr Anna Keay OBE

    Dr Anna Keay OBE is a historian, curator and broadcaster born and brought up in the West Highlands of Scotland. She read Modern History at Magdalen College, Oxford and has a Ph.D. from Queen Mary, University of London. She was formerly a Curator of Historic Royal Palaces and the Curatorial Director of English Heritage.

    Dr Keay is currently Director (CEO) of the historic buildings charity the Landmark Trust, which works to save and repair endangered historic buildings. The charity’s project to revive derelict Astley Castle in Warwickshire won the Stirling Prize for architecture in 2013.

    Anna is a Trustee of the Royal Collection Trust and the Pilgrim Trust. She has written and broadcast widely on British history and culture including contributing to BBC coverage of the Funeral of HM Queen Elizabeth II and the coronation of HM The King. Her most recent book, The Restless Republic (William Collins, 2022) won the Duff Cooper Prize for Non-Fiction and was The Sunday Times History Book of the Year, 2022.

    Alexander (Sandy) Nairne CBE FSA

    Sandy Nairne is a writer and curator and until 2015 was Director of the National Portrait Gallery. He has previously worked at the Institute of Contemporary Arts, the Arts Council, and as Director of Programmes at Tate.

    He is Deputy Chair of the National Trust, Chair of the Fabric Advisory Committee at St Paul’s Cathedral and supports Maggie’s cancer care centres as art advisor. He is a member of the Bank of England Banknote Character Advisory Committee and the arts and humanities panel of the Wolfson Foundation. For several years he was Chair of the Fourth Plinth Commissioning Group.

    His publications include State of the Art, 1987, the anthology Thinking about Exhibitions, 1996, The 21st Century Portrait, Art Theft and the Case of the Stolen Turners, 2011, and The Coincidence of Novembers, 2020. He is the co-author of a biography of Lord Desborough being published by Unbound in early 2024.

    In 2011 he was appointed CBE and elected as a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries.

    Sir William Shawcross CVO

    Sir William Shawcross has dedicated a significant portion of his life to the field of writing, with a particular focus on subjects related to our constitutional monarchy. In 2002, he authored “Queen and Country,” a book that complemented his BBC1 television series, serving as the flagship publication for the Golden Jubilee.

    In 2003, Sir William was honoured with Her late Majesty The Queen’s gracious invitation to pen the Official Biography of Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother, which was subsequently published in 2009. In 2014, with the Queen’s permission, he undertook the editing and publication of a selection of the Queen Mother’s letters, titled “Counting One’s Blessings.”

    Transitioning to public service in 2012, Sir William assumed the role of Chairman of the Charity Commission, a position he held until 2018. Subsequently, he conducted a study for the Foreign Secretary, focusing on Colonel Gaddafi’s covert military and financial support for the IRA.

    Sir William was appointed by the Home Secretary to serve as the Independent Reviewer of the Home Office’s counter-extremism programme, Prevent, in 2021. He currently holds the position of Commissioner for Public Appointments.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Chair of the Queen Elizabeth Memorial Committee announced [February 2024]

    PRESS RELEASE : Chair of the Queen Elizabeth Memorial Committee announced [February 2024]

    The press release issued by the Cabinet Office on 5 February 2024.

    LORD JANVRIN, former Private Secretary to Queen Elizabeth II, has been appointed as Chair of the newly established Queen Elizabeth Memorial Committee, the Deputy Prime Minister has announced.

    The Queen Elizabeth Memorial Committee will be an independent body responsible for considering and recommending proposals for a memorial to Queen Elizabeth II. It will be jointly supported by the UK Government and the Royal Household .

    The Committee will develop proposals for both a permanent memorial, and a national legacy programme that will allow everyone in the UK to commemorate Queen Elizabeth’s life of service.

    The UK Government will support the proposals, and will consider funding options as proposals develop.

    The committee will consider Her Late Majesty’s life of public service throughout her long reign and the causes she supported. The Committee will also engage with the public to ensure ideas and suggestions from across the UK are captured.

    The plans will be unveiled to coincide with what would have been Her Late Majesty’s hundredth birthday year in 2026.

    A range of senior figures and experts will be appointed to develop ideas and bring recommendations to The King and the Prime Minister. These further appointments to the Committee will be announced in due course.

    Commenting on his appointment Lord Janvrin said:

    It is an honour to be asked to chair the Queen Elizabeth Memorial Committee. It will be a unique challenge to try to capture for future generations Her Late Majesty’s extraordinary contribution to our national life throughout her very long reign.

    Deputy Prime Minister Oliver Dowden said:

    Queen Elizabeth II was our longest reigning Monarch and greatest public servant. Lord Janvrin will now begin the important work of designing a fitting tribute to her legacy of service to our nation and the Commonwealth.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Government takes major step in improving biosecurity and preventing diseases [January 2024]

    PRESS RELEASE : Government takes major step in improving biosecurity and preventing diseases [January 2024]

    The press release issued by the Cabinet Office on 31 January 2024.

    Introduction of new border controls will help guard against incoming diseases and pests while minimising burdens and costs for traders and consumers.

    • New border controls introduced today will help prevent the import of diseases and pests from animal and plant products
    • Series of new controls will minimise burdens and costs for traders and consumers
    • This is the first major step towards making the UK the most advanced border in the world

    Today (31st January 2024), the UK takes a major step in improving its biosecurity and keeping the country safe from diseases.

    New border controls will come into effect for animals, plants and plant products imported to Great Britain from the EU. Products which present a ‘medium risk’ to biosecurity and health will now require export health certificates and phytosanitary certificates, where currently they enter the UK without them.

    As a global trading nation, diseases carried from imported animals, animal products, plants and plant products pose a serious risk to the UK’s biosecurity. Risk-based border controls are essential to manage this and ensure that we only import safe, high-quality products.

    Risk-based controls also mean that imports from all countries will be assessed the same way, where ‘high-risk’ products undergo necessary checks, and ‘low-risk’ products are imported more freely when it is safe to do so.

    The controls coming into effect today are part of the Border Target Operating Model, which has been designed with traders and consumers at the forefront.

    The model will minimise burdens for traders by making smart use of data and technology. Health certificates are being digitised and simplified, where currently they are paper-based and complex. The Single Trade Window will remove the need for traders to provide the same data multiple times, and Trusted Trader schemes will significantly reduce controls for our most credible traders.

    Controls are being applied on goods from Ireland for the first time. However, thanks to the Windsor Framework, Northern Ireland (NI) goods will benefit from full and unconditional unfettered access, regardless of whether they move indirectly via Ireland. This will further bolster Northern Ireland’s place within the UK’s economic union and more squarely focus the benefits of unfettered access on NI traders.

    The introduction of the Border Target Operating Model also sharpens the competitive advantage of Northern Ireland businesses, who now have unique unfettered access to both their primary market in GB as well as and the EU single market.

    Government has worked extensively with traders both in the UK and in the EU to ensure the new controls and requirements are clear and that they have ample time to prepare.

    In the design phase of the Border Target Operating Model, Government consulted thousands of stakeholders through events, focus groups and through written correspondence. Since the model was published, there has been ongoing communication with industry.

    DEFRA has also conducted a Trader Readiness Survey which captures views from industry, which the department continuously monitors and uses to address concerns.

    The controls coming into place today are the first major step the Government is taking to improve the UK’s border. Two further sets of controls will be introduced this year.

    From 30 April 2024, Government will introduce documentary, physical and identity checks at the border for medium risk animal products, plants and plant products imported to Great Britain from the EU except goods that enter Great Britain via West Coast ports.

    31 October 2024, Government will further simplify traders’ management of Sanitary and Phytosanitary requirements. Safety and Security declarations will also be required for all goods moving from the EU to Great Britain. These controls were announced in the Border Target Operating Model in August 2023, which sets out a risk-based approach to importing that will be introduced progressively.

    These controls were announced in the Border Target Operating Model in August 2023, which sets out a risk-based approach to importing that will be introduced progressively.

    Baroness Neville-Rolfe, Minister of State at the Cabinet Office, said:

    Our aim is to have border controls which maximise the protection of the UK population from harms such as drugs and animal and human diseases while minimising the disruption to legitimate trade. The new UK system being introduced over the course of this year makes a huge stride towards meeting this objective. We have worked with traders and businesses  extensively to design the controls and will continue to listen to their feedback.

    Biosecurity Minister Lord Douglas-Miller said:

    Border controls on imported goods are vitally important to safeguard our high biosecurity standards, protecting the UK from potentially harmful pests and diseases, and maintaining trust in our exports.

    These checks must also be proportionate and pragmatic – which is why we’ve taken a phased approach to implementing the new system and are working closely with industry to help them prepare.

    The controls introduced today strike the right balance between trade and biosecurity.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Specialised Committee on the Implementation of the Windsor Framework [January 2024]

    PRESS RELEASE : Specialised Committee on the Implementation of the Windsor Framework [January 2024]

    The press release issued by the Cabinet Office on 24 January 2024.

    Joint statement by the UK government and European Commission:

    The Specialised Committee on the Implementation of the Windsor Framework met today in Brussels, co-chaired by officials from the European Commission and the UK Government.

    The Committee co-chairs took stock of the work undertaken by both sides on the implementation of the Windsor Framework since the last meeting on 20 September 2023. In particular, they discussed the implementation of the Windsor Framework in the areas of agri-food and customs in light of the provisions which took effect in autumn 2023 and the implementation milestones ahead. They agreed to continue meeting on a regular basis to monitor and ensure the full implementation of all the elements of the Framework in a faithful way.

    The Committee co-chairs also took stock of the work of the Joint Consultative Working Group and its structured sub-groups. They reiterated the importance of continued joint engagement with Northern Ireland stakeholders.

  • PRESS RELEASE : John Glen sets out plan for modern Civil Service to deliver stronger public services [January 2024]

    PRESS RELEASE : John Glen sets out plan for modern Civil Service to deliver stronger public services [January 2024]

    The press release issued by the Cabinet Office on 22 January 2024.

    In his keynote address at the Institute for Government’s annual conference, the Minister for the Cabinet Office, John Glen, will outline his long-term priorities to modernise the Civil Service into a more productive institution so it can deliver stronger public services.

    • Minister to outline value of Civil Service, with new measures to strengthen public sector delivery
    • Reform will focus on investing in technology, reducing unnecessary process and supporting talent attraction, retention and reducing staff churn
    • New line management standards across the Civil Service, underpinned by  reviewing staff performance management approach, to support career development and help tackle rare instances of unchecked poor performance or serious issues with agreed office attendance
    • New guidance on staff networks will safeguard civil service impartiality, alongside review of network spending

    In his keynote address at the Institute for Government’s annual conference this morning (Tuesday, January 23rd, 2024), the Minister for the Cabinet Office, John Glen, will outline his long-term priorities to modernise the Civil Service into a more productive institution so it can deliver stronger public services through three key priorities:

    First, unlocking the transformative potential of new technologies such as A.I. by increasing our ambition on the pace and scale of digital transformation in government. Second, unlocking new ways of working by streamlining and simplifying how government operates. Third, leveraging workforce potential by addressing problems of talent attraction, retention and churn through a smaller, skilled workforce that is better rewarded, with stronger performance management.

    The Minister will highlight new line management standards, underpinned by reviewing staff performance management across Government, building on the good practice in place across most of the Civil Service. Line managers will be supported to work with their teams to develop civil servants’ expertise and skills with a more consistent approach across departments, while also addressing rare instances of unchecked poor performance.

    He will also make clear that he believes face-to-face working and making full use of Government offices are the right way to deliver for the taxpayer and develop new talent. Data from surveying 30,700 civil servants shows that ‘learning from others’ and staff interaction has consistently been found to be better supported in the office compared to at home.

    Ministers will look at performance management guidance for senior civil servants to ensure that making full use of offices is factored into their yearly reviews.

    Setting out the vital role the Civil Service plays up and down the country and emphasising the importance of ensuring it works as effectively and efficiently as possible, he will tell the audience that the Civil Service has to learn to do more with less.

    He will also welcome recent successes like the £7.8 billion in efficiencies secured between 2020 and 2022 through central functional teams, like commercial, finance and project delivery – focusing on how to replicate these across the civil service.

    Minister for the Cabinet Office, the Rt Hon John Glen MP said:

    The Civil Service and the work it does impacts all of our lives in so many ways, we must therefore ensure it is fit for purpose for the long term, and delivers efficiently and effectively.

    It is clear we have to do more with less. To do this, we must embrace new technology, empower those around us by working collaboratively in offices, and ensure performance management standards enable line managers to provide the best possible feedback and tackle consistent poor performance.

    The Civil Service must adapt today to prepare for the urgent challenges of tomorrow. Our citizens deserve nothing less, and I know our committed civil servants are up for the challenge.

    The Minister will also reaffirm the government’s long-term commitment to implementing cutting-edge new AI technologies across the organisation. He will endorse the development of bespoke AI products designed to eliminate unnecessary bureaucracy, improve the speed of public service delivery, and enhance how the government communicates with the public.

    New guidance on civil service staff networks will also be issued shortly as part of wider plans to improve productivity and provide clearer advice on acting with impartiality in relation to diversity and inclusion.

    The guidance will ensure civil servants have a better understanding of how best to balance staff network activity with their primary responsibilities and impartiality commitments under the civil service code.

  • PRESS RELEASE : New Government WhatsApp Channel to provide public information [January 2024]

    PRESS RELEASE : New Government WhatsApp Channel to provide public information [January 2024]

    The press release issued by the Cabinet Office on 22 January 2024.

    Government launches new Whatsapp Channel to provide helpful opt-in information to the public.

    Government rings in new WhatsApp Channel to provide helpful information to the public

    • New WhatsApp Channel will communicate important information directly to people’s phones.
    • System is entirely opt-in and will amplify key messages like information on childcare support and cost of living payments.
    • Town crier announces launch of new communication channel outside Parliament.

    The Government has launched a new account on WhatsApp Channels, allowing members of the public to subscribe to receive important updates to their phones.

    WhatsApp Channels are used by a range of organisations, from news sites to football clubs and increasingly by Governments – providing single message alerts or updates to anyone subscribed to them.

    WhatsApp makes it clear that the channels are one-way only and users can opt in or out at any time.

    Cabinet Office Minister Alex Burghart said:

    We are always looking for new ways to communicate with the public. WhatsApp is a hugely popular platform in the UK so we hope our new and entirely opt-in WhatsApp channel will be a useful way of providing people with updates from the government. We’re looking forward to seeing how people respond to this service and will develop it over time based on users’ feedback.

    Helen Charles, Director of Public Policy, WhatsApp at Meta, Europe said:

    We’re pleased that the UK Government is using WhatsApp Channels to give people in the UK better access to reliable information through the most private broadcast service available.

    As a trusted, verified account the UK Government channel will focus on reiterating important information which is relevant directly to the public in areas like updating on public services, news updates that affect a large part of the population or pointing to new guidance and public resources.

    Like any new communications method being used by Government – the UK Government channel will be continuously reviewed to ensure that it is being used effectively to provide  timely and relevant information. Users can expect to regular updates from across government on a weekly basis.

    From Tuesday followers of the UK Government WhatsApp channel will be notified that they can get discounted rail tickets from the Great British Rail Sale

    Examples of other UK Government channel posts include:

    • Reiterating public health advice like announcing winter flu jabs
    • Deadline reminders like self-assessment tax return deadlines
    • New information on extra support the public can receive, like cost of living payments and government-linked discounts and other benefits
    • Childcare support updates

    The Government will also use the channel to share trusted and essential information from partner organisations like UK Health Security and Public Health England health alerts.

    The channel will be a publicly run information service, similar to gov.uk or official government social media accounts. It will not be used for political or campaign purposes and will be managed by government officials.

    Anyone with a WhatsApp account can follow the new UK Government WhatsApp channel by searching for ‘UK Government’ in the ‘Updates’ section of the app and choosing to follow the account.

    The channel is entirely separate from the national emergency alerts system, which was tested in 2023 and which provides alerts only when there is a direct risk to life. Unlike emergency alerts, users must opt-in via WhatsApp to subscribe to the Government WhatsApp channel.

    Critical information and updates will always be published to gov.uk – the UK Government’s official website, in the usual way, and the WhatsApp channel will help amplify information to those who opt in. The channel is intended to help reach more members of the public who might not otherwise receive Government updates.

    To mark the launch of this new channel of communication, town crier Alan Myatt made a public announcement outside Parliament.  The video of this can be found here: https://youtube.com/shorts/a6tBIBsD0eQ

    You can subscribe to the UK Government WhatsApp Channel here: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaGDHQ6GpLHKEdlUt03L

  • PRESS RELEASE : Huge boost for global security with almost £1 billion government investment [January 2024]

    PRESS RELEASE : Huge boost for global security with almost £1 billion government investment [January 2024]

    The press release issued by the Cabinet Office on 18 January 2024.

    The UK benefited from £830 million in the 2022-23 financial year delivering programmes and peacekeeping in more than 90 countries to bolster global security.

    The Conflict, Stability and Security Fund’s (CSSF) investment delivers projects in Ukraine, Africa, the Indo-Pacific and the Overseas Territories among other places. Last year it more than doubled spending on cyber security programmes, with £25.5 million spent on the Global Cyber Programme, the Africa Joint Operations Against Cyber Crime and bolstering the cyber defences Georgia, Iraq and elsewhere.

    The Cabinet Office-led CSSF tackles the greatest threats to UK national security emanating from overseas, especially conflict, transnational threats and hostile state activity. The 2022 to 2023 CSSF Annual Report reveals how and where it spent money to tackle these global security challenges, such as assistance to Ukraine following the illegal invasion by Russia and countering Russian disinformation on the invasion.

    The CSSF also plays a key role in strengthening UK and international partners’ cyber security by strengthening their cyber defences and supporting their fight against cyber-crime. For example the CSSF has also funded programmes in the Indo-Pacific region, delivering cyber exercises in Malaysia, Indonesia, and Japan to help test their response to a major national cyber attack.

    Through the CSSF, the UK established a Ukraine Cyber Programme, providing £7.3 million from the beginning of the invasion to March 2022. Following the IRR, funding for this programme will be increased by up to £25 million, including £16 million from UK funding, and potential for a further £9 million contribution from international allies.

    Ukraine was the biggest single-state recipient of CSSF-funded Official Development Assistance, receiving £41 million, an increase from £23.5 million in the 2021 to 2022 financial year.

    Cabinet Office Minister for the CSSF Baroness Neville-Rolfe said:

    From the Balkans to Latin America, the Indo-Pacific and beyond, the UK’s Conflict, Stability and Security Fund plays a vital role in keeping people safe both at home and abroad.

    Improving the cyber security of our international partners is vital to the preservation of the rules-based international system and so detecting, disrupting and deterring cyber threats across the globe has been central to the CSSF’s work.

    Other significant areas of spending included projects in Eastern Europe and Central Asia which accounted for around 14% of CSSF funding (£119.28 million) and projects in Sub-Saharan Africa which accounted for almost 12% of CSSF funding (£98.57 million). In Sub-Saharan Africa the CSSF’s investment has tackled the threat of violent extremists by working with counter terror organisations.

    The CSSF also manages the UK government’s funding of peacekeeping operations and deployments and manages the Rapid Response Mechanism with peacekeeping efforts accounting for more than a third (36%) of its spending (£301.8 million).

    In March 2023, as part of the Integrated Review Refresh, the Prime Minister announced the CSSF would transform into a new fund: the Integrated Security Fund (ISF) from April 2024. The CSSF’s transition into the ISF will link up our domestic and overseas security to strengthen our ability to export world-leading expertise to international partners so we can tackle global challenges such as smuggling, illicit finances and large-scale migration.

    The Cabinet Office-led CSSF brings together several government departments, including the FCDO, Home Office and Ministry of Defence. The FCDO was the single biggest spender of CSSF funding the 2022 to 2023 financial year; it accounted for 81.7% of total spend (£678.27 million).

  • PRESS RELEASE : New official portrait of King Charles III released for public authorities [January 2024]

    PRESS RELEASE : New official portrait of King Charles III released for public authorities [January 2024]

    The press release issued by Cabinet Office on 17 January 2024.

    New official portrait of The King in Naval uniform taken at Windsor Castle last year.

    The Cabinet Office has released a new official portrait of His Majesty The King that will soon hang in public buildings the length and breadth of the United Kingdom.

    The portrait, taken at Windsor Castle last year by photographer Hugo Burnand shows His Majesty wearing a Royal Navy uniform of an Admiral of the Fleet and official medals and decorations.

    A copy of the portrait is being offered to public authorities across the United Kingdom free-of-charge as part of a scheme to celebrate the new reign.

    Applications are open for eligible institutions – including principal Local Authorities, courts, schools, police forces and fire and rescue services – to apply for the new portrait under the scheme. In February, the scheme will be extended to include town, parish and community councils and Ministry of Defence-sponsored cadet forces.

    Deputy Prime Minister Oliver Dowden said:

    The accession of His Majesty The King marked a new chapter in our national story.

    Displaying this new portrait will serve as a reminder to us all of the example set by our ultimate public servant and I hope as many eligible organisations as possible will wish to continue this proud British tradition and honour our King’s reign.

    His Majesty’s accession has marked the beginning of a new reign and the UK Government considers it right that public authorities, as part of the fabric of our nation, have the opportunity to commemorate this moment, strengthen civil pride and reflect the new era in our history.

    Official portraits of Queen Elizabeth II are currently on display in many public institutions, and the offering of the new official portrait of His Majesty will enable organisations across the UK to carry on that tradition.

  • PRESS RELEASE : UK Government strengthens UK-Japan partnership on cyber [January 2024]

    PRESS RELEASE : UK Government strengthens UK-Japan partnership on cyber [January 2024]

    The press release issued by the Cabinet Office on 17 January 2024.

    A new partnership between Japan and the UK will strengthen the UKs strategic approach to cyber.

    Today the two countries have agreed to a Memorandum of Cooperation to deepen public-private partnerships in cyber between the UK and Japan.

    The Memorandum was signed during the course of a three-day visit to the UK from Japan’s Keidanren Cyber Security Committee, hosted by the National Cyber Advisory Board (NCAB).

    Co-chaired by Deputy Prime Minster, Oliver Dowden, and Chief Information Officer at Lloyds Banking Group, Sharon Barber, NCAB was formed in 2022 to bring together leaders from academia and industry. The group aims to present alternative viewpoints and harness networks from across the cyber ecosystem, supporting delivery of the National Cyber Strategy.

    Signing the Memorandum on behalf of the UK, Deputy Prime Minister and Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, Oliver Dowden said,

    Cyber is the new frontier. To ensure we remain at the forefront of cyber strategy we must continue to work with democratic partners who share our values”.

    Japan is an important friend and ally, sharing our beliefs on areas such as rule of law, climate change and human rights. This latest partnership further strengthens our relationship with Japan following the signing of the Hiroshima Accord and promotes collaboration across the public and private sector, strengthening our economy and demonstrating the UK Government’s commitment to making long-term decisions to secure our future.

    The Japanese delegation met with key figures from the public sector alongside industry experts including senior representatives from IBM and Sharon Barber, Chief Information Officer at Lloyds Banking Group, to discuss securing digital supply chains, engaging businesses on cyber resilience and best practice recruitment to increase cyber skills across both countries.

    This builds on the UK and Japan’s work together to strengthen our shared values of democracy, rule of law and free and open trade. In May 2023 the UK and Japan signed the Hiroshima Accord committing to an enhanced Global Strategic Partnership on issues such as global security, resilience and climate change.

    Signing on behalf of Japan, Dr. Nobuhiro Endo commented,

    Based on this MoC, Keidanren is determined to further deepen and broaden bilateral cooperation between our public and private sectors. From the perspective of co-creating a data-driven society, we hope to continue to discuss safe and secure use of digital technologies including AI.

    Co-chair of NCAB, Sharon Barber commented,

    Close collaboration between government and industry is at the heart of NCAB. The Memorandum of Cooperation between the UK and Japan is a significant further step on our journey and one which will help both nations further mature their private-public partnerships on cyber, and ultimately support the delivery of each nation’s cyber security strategy.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Joint Statement: US-UK Strategic Dialogue on Biological Security [January 2024]

    PRESS RELEASE : Joint Statement: US-UK Strategic Dialogue on Biological Security [January 2024]

    The press release issued by the Cabinet Office on 16 January 2024.

    On 16 January the United States and the United Kingdom announced a Strategic Dialogue on Biological Security.

    Building on the June 10, 2021 New Atlantic Charter and the June 8, 2023 Atlantic Declaration on Economic Security, the U.S. National Security Council and the UK Cabinet Office today announce a new Strategic Dialogue on Biological Security.

    Underpinned by the UK Biological Security Strategy and the U.S. National Biodefense Strategy, this Strategic Dialogue reflects a shared ambition to bolster future health and economic resilience against a growing and diverse spectrum of biological threats.

    The Strategic Dialogue reaffirms both nations’ commitment to increase collaboration in the following ways:

    • Develop a shared understanding of research and development (R&D) needs at the onset of new disease outbreaks, allowing for improved responsiveness by shaping global R&D efforts and supporting early technology assessments.
    • Adopt a One Health approach to biosurveillance and biological threat detection, in support of international efforts to develop stronger and more interconnected global surveillance capabilities.
    • Pursue the development of new tools and methodologies for microbial forensics and attribution.
    • Promote responsible innovation in the biotechnology, health, and life sciences sectors, shaping global norms and standards on biosafety and biosecurity while simultaneously protecting burgeoning bio-economies.
    • Facilitate the development of next-generation vaccines and therapeutics, in line with the 100-Days Mission vision supported by G7 leaders in Carbis Bay in 2021 and reaffirmed at the 2023 G7 Summit in Hiroshima.
    • Strengthen coordination of efforts to counter biological threats, including developing joint measures to address Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention compliance.

    US National Security Council

    UK Cabinet Office

    16 January 2024